Counting machine



1,567,951 H. lEPsoN COUNTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 5, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29 1925. 1,567,951

, PL HEBSJBI COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l@ s M f5 ILLU/ I l 000D /6 l 5 f" @wmv Wem H. COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1922 4 'sheets-Shen s 5 @wn @e 'WEEPSQN `COUNTING: MACHINE Dec. v29, 1925. 1,567,951

Filed Dc. 5, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATEQi FFIQE.

HENRY IEPSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, FENNSYLVANA, ASSIGNOR`TO ABBOTTS ALBER- NEY DAIRIES INCORQBA'IED, OF PHILADELPEZIA. FENNSYLVANIA, A COBFRA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COUNTING MACHINE.

Application led December T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY InrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Counting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide an accurate, simple and substantial device for automatically registering the number of articles, such as packages, boxes or cases, passing a predetermined point, and the invention more especially contemplates a novel structure for carrying a register and a counting wheel so that the latter will be properly actuated by the objects whose number is to be determined.

I further desire to provide an automatic registering device including a counting wheel and novel supporting means therefor arranged to permit automatic adjustment of said wheel to suit it to be invariably actuated by the objects passing it, regardless of variations in their position, dimensions and speed of movement.

I also desire to provide a registering mechanism particularly adapted for use in connection with a conveyor or runway to count the number, of articles carried by or passing through the same, the invention including novel means for insuring a counting wheel maintaining predetermined relation with the registering mechanism with which it is associated.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figs. l and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a counting machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. B is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. l and 2, the supporting structure being in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is an axial section taken through the counting wheel and its associated support;

i Fig. 5 is a plan of a runway showing counting machines applied thereto in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and a side elevation .0f a Second form of my nvention;

5, 192s. Serial No. 605,117.

Fig. S is an end elevation, partly .in section, further illustrating the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9 9, Fig. s. Referring to Fig. 5 of the above drawings, l-l represent longitudinally extending frame members associated with or forming part of a suitable conveying device. This conveying device is shown as being an inclined runway having guide rails 2-2 mounted between and respectively adjacent the frame members 1 4. Extending below and between these `guide rails is a series of rollers and the structure in thc present instance is particularly designed as a runway or conveyor for eases containing filled bottles of milk, cream or the like.

For the purpose of registering the number of boxes passing through this runway, I provide the mechanism shown in Figs. l to inclusive, which in a typical ease consists of a pair of angle brackets si-e bolted or otherwise fixed to one of the frame members l. rIhese brackets have respectively hinged or pivoted to them by bolts 5-5 the two parallel side members of an inverted U- shaped frame 5, made in the present instance of a length of fiat bar material having its ends bent parallel to each other and at right angles to its body. A bar in the form of an elongated bolt 7 extends between the parallel side members of this frame, and a suitable spring S is connected between this bar and the adjacent guide member 2 so that it tends to swing said frame on its pivots 5 5 toward and keep it from moving away from said guide.

At one end of the frame is bolted or otherwise attached an upwardly extending post 9 having rotatably mounted on its upper end a counting wheel l0, there being anti-friction bearings l1 preferably interposed between said post and the hub of said wheel to facilitate its easy rotation. The diameter and positioning of the wheel is such that under the action of the spring 8 it is normally held so that it projects beyond the plane including the vertical side of the guide member 2, into the runway between said guides so as to necessarily be engaged by any box or case passing through the same. Its diameter is such that its circumference connected to the bar 25 adjacent its pivot bolt 26, one end of the spring 37 being con nected to this arm while its other end. is connected to a second arm 3S) projecting from the supporting structure 1a.

In this case the registering device 12 is mounted on the swinging bar 25 and has its actuating lever 13 connected by a bolt or pin a() to one arm of a lever 41 ulcrumed on the top ot a post 42 carried by the bar 25 in such position that the second arm of said lever may be engaged by the bolt or pin 36 on the counting wheel. 10a. A spring 43 acts on the lever 41 to normally hold it, with the actuating arm 13 ot the registering device, in a denite position.

lVith the above described arrangement of parts, a box or package moving through the runway engages the teeth of the wheel 10"L whose circumference is of such length as to cause it to be given a little more than one revolution by said package. The tension of the spring 33 is adjusted by the nuts 34; so that it will act on the ring 32 with sufficient force to prevent said ring slipping on the collar or ange 31 until the tension ot the spring 35, reaches a predetermined amount. In this Way the spring 35 is maintained under tension and the pin 36 is held by the spring against the lever 41. As a consequence, when the counting wheel is turned by reason of its engagement with the side of a box or package, its pin or bolt 36 ultimately comes into engagement with the lever 41 and swings this on its fulcrum in opposition to the spring 43, thereafter releasing said lever with the result that the arm 13 ot the counting mechanism is given one oscillation.

'Owing to the spring 35, the pin 36 after having been moved past the lever L11, is brought back against the same when the counting wheel 1()a is disengaged by the box. The spring 37 tends to hold the counting wheel in operative engagement with the box so that it will not slip relatively thereto, so that each box passing said counting wheel will impart one oscillation to the lever 13 ot the registering device 12 and cause the mechanism of this latter to be moved to the extent of one unit.

From the above description it will be appreciated that my device is not only rela* tively simple, but is substantial and of such a nature as not to require attention or frequent repair. Moreover it is highly accurate and permits the number of boxes in a days run for example, to be instantaneously noted by an observation of the numerals displayed by the registering device 12. It will be understood that it is immaterial whether the articles to be counted are positively conveyed past my apparatus or merely move under the action o'tf gravity, since the structure of the conveyor or runway constitutes no part of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination in a conveying device, of means for registering the number of articles carried thereby, the said means comprising a counting` wheel adapted to engage the said articles and to be moved by each of them through approximately one revolution, a device for registering each complete revolution of the wheel, and means 'for addition* ally moving the wheel after each engagement with an article to cause it to assume a position exactly corresponding to one complete revolution.

2. The combination in a conveying device, of means for registering the number of articles carried thereby, the said means comprising a counting wheel adapted to engage the said articles and to be moved by each of them through a little more than one revolution, a device for registering each complete revolution of the wheel, and means for turning the wheel backward after each engage` ment with an article to a position exactly corresponding to a net rotary advance of one revolution.

3. The combination in a conveying device of means for registering the number of articles carried thereby, the said means comprising a counting wheel adapted to engage the said articles and to be moved by each of them through a little more than one revolution, a device for registering each complete revolution of the wheel, a spiral spring connected at one end to the wheel and tending to turn the wheel backward after each engagement with an article to a position exactly corresponding to a net rotary advance of one revolution, and a rictional connection for the other end of the spring permitting the said end to turn when the tension ot the spring exceeds a predetermined amount.

HENRY IEPSON. 

